Last Remaining Sequence Of Human Genetic Code Solved

May 17, 2006 -- Scientists have cracked the last remaining part of the human genetic code, publishing the sequence of Chromosome 1 in the British journal Nature today.

Chromosome 1 is the last to be decoded of 24 chromosomes, the sections of the human gene. The research identifies 3,000 distinct genes that hold clues to the development of more than 350 diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's, high cholesterol, and neurological disorders.

The data will now be open to other researchers seeking information on the causes of diseases and potential cures.

The international consortium of scientists, mainly from the United States and Britain, also identified thousands of genetic variations that make people unique.